Platen for type-writing machines.



' PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

JI ZIBGLER. v PLATBN FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, 1901. BEN" EWBD JULY 30, 1902. I

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

i 4 6 Jbrazwz iglen N0. 843 057. 'PATENTED FEB. 5 1907. J. ZIEGLBR. PLATEN FOR TYPE WRITING MAGHINES.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21, 1901. RENEWED JULY 30, 1902.

4 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

z n a M W n Wm Q m. v n k N mm 9 M lfi l ||ii1i||li n l H NM an MN Z a mQ m W N 1 No. 843,057. PATENTED FEB. 5, 1907.

J. ZIEGLER. v

PLATEN FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 21. 1901. RENEWED JULY 30, 1902,

'4 SHEETS-SHEETL ebmm/z wyzefi i no. 843,057.

- To all whom it may concern;

UNITED s'rnrns PATENT 10mm.

JORAM IEGLER, or CLEVELAND, orno, ASSIGNOR. BY MESNE lissioiniiiiiirfis,

.TO ELLIOTT-FISHER QOLIFANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.-

PLATENFOR TYPEY-WFHTING MACHINESH- r Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented' Feb. 5, 1907;

Application filed June 21, 1901. Renewed July 30, 1902. Serial No. 117,717.,

Be itknown that I, JORAM- ZIEGLE'R. a

,citizenof. the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of (iuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new anii'usefur Plate-n for Type-Whiting, Machines, of which the following is a specification.

- This invention relates to typenwiting inachines of. that type wherein a flat platen is' 'associatedwith printing mechanism mounted to travel-.thereovenand has special reference theequipment of such a platen with means forgprotect-ing and holding or assisting in the-hilldlng of cards, sheets, or other.

yy ,Ik 'elernents of difierent sizes in the printng pos tion. To this-end the invention contemplates in onev aspectthereof the equipment of the fiat platen with. work holding and guarding .niembers disposed, both transversely and longitudinally of the platen'and adjustable both laterally and longitudinally thereof for the purpose of'presenting said guarding and holding members aboveboth the end and' side edges of the card, she et,, or bill to be writtenupon. In this aspect of! the invention it comprehends an advance of the idea As distinguished from the Eckert coni sti'uotion the present invention involves. as already stated, the idea of work holding istrips disposed both transversely and longitndinally of the platen and adjustable, so as .t-o loc-ate. them for the retention of sheets. of

ii-11v length-or width within the area of the Y platen; the transversely disposed holding and.

guarding member being preferably duted toinsure the guarding and retention i' h the topand bottom edges of the sheet.

"1 another aspect of the invention it mrehcnds ,theemployment of the guard- :dhol'ding strips as component parts of movable toward and from the Writthee of'the platen and preferably inirame elevated in dotted lines.

' eluding as elements of said franiethe swing ing sections of the main tracks or guides for the traveling machine-frame. 1

To the attainment ofthis endthat is to sav. the equipment ofthe platen inthe m n, ner specified.the invention consists, in the illustrated embodiment thereof, in dis posing a series of thin metal. strips, webs/or plates transversely of the platen and in slidingengagenient at their opposite ends with the,

main tracks or guides and in dis ,csing be low said wehs or plates a longitu inal hold- .ing member in the form of a thin flexible iretal'tape or band having its front endedjustahly connected at the fron t end of the platen to a frame-bar extending between the. front ends of the rails, the rear end .ofthe longitudinal holding n1e1nber, .or tape being likewise secured for lateral adjustment respect to the platen and associated with suitable mechanism for taking .up' the slack in the tape when the frame isinoved with-respect to the platen.

The invention consists, furthern ore in certain details ofconstruction and arrange ment to be hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and succinctlv defined in the appendedclai-nis.

In said drawings, Figure. 1; is a top-plan view of a flat platen equipped with, work holding, and guarding nzeans in accordance with m v invention. Fig.2 is a longitizdinalselctional view on the l ne 2 2 of Fig. -],'show1ng the rea a transverse sectional viewon the line 3 320i L Fig. 1. Fig. i is a bottom plan view of the rear end of the platen, illnstrating. the-iconstruction of the mechanism for taking up the slack in the longitudinal holding member 01 ta e. on a somewhat enlarged scale, of the. rearend portion of the platen on the line 5 dot-Fig, 1, showing the work-holding and naohine supporting traineswung. away from the. platen. Fig. 6 is a similar view ofthe fIOI t-Lendport-ion of the platen 011 the line 66 ofFig. 1.

- Fig. 7 is a plan view similar to Fig.1. .bl t

showing a modified form of longitudinal work holding and gnardingine nber. v

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view,

Like n'ninerals of reference are. applie dfto corresponding parts throughoutit-heviews.

The invention is of course. applicablefor use in connection with type-writinginaclnnes of any'kind provided theycornprehe ndatiat platen upon which the work is to be held in a flat or spread-out condition in the printing The platen (indicated by the numeral 1) comprises a metal or other suitable baseplate 2, having a covering of rubber or other 1 suitable material 3 and hinged at its rear end, .as indicated at 4, to the platen extension 5. The platen proper defines the maximum printing area, and upon completion of the work the machine (not illustrated) is moved I back to a position above the platen extension 5, ordinarily secured to a suitable supporting structure. (Not shown.) The traveling machine is mounted upon the main tracks or guides 6 for longitudinal movement over the platen-that is to'say, in the direction of linespacing-forward or backward, and for the purpose of illustrating the invention now under consideration I have selected a platen of that type wherein the main tracks orguides for the traveling machine-frame are composed of hinged sections 7, mounted above the platen proper, and fixed sections 8, dis' posed above the platen extension 5. In platens of this type the hinged sections 7 of the main tracks or guidesare designed to swing from a center or pivot coaxial with the axis of movement of the platen, but are con nected for simultaneous movement independently of the platenas, for instance, by means of a connecting-bar 9, extending between the hinged sections 7 of the in ain tracks or guides at the front of the platen. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The hinged tracks thus. connected and movable toward and away from the writing-surface constitute a verti-' cally-swinging frame.

The construction thus far described is not novel. I V,

In carrying out the present invention the inner or adjacent side faces of the swinging tracks-sections 7 are formed with longitudinal grooves 10 for thereception of the opposite ends -of a pair of transversely-disposed work-holding plates, guards, or webs 11 and 12, which are adjustable longitudinally of the platen to present them at various points withinthe printing area. The purpose 'of these plates 1s to cover, clamp, .and guard the top and bottom end edges of the work-sheet irrespective of the dimensions of the latter, so that the sheet will be held in a flat smoothlyspread-out condition during-the printing operation and will be guarded against such contact with a portion of the machine as might tend to displace or rumple the sheet. The

employment ofa transverse guard or web extending between a pair of swinging rail-sections is not novel, since this construction is disclosed in the application of Eckert, hereinabove identified; but it is novel to provide a plurality of such transversely-disposed workholding members, guards, or webs capable of relative adjustment to accommodate worksheets of various lengths. As premised,

however, the present invention contemplates the employment not only of a plurality of transverse -disposed holding members or guardsy-but also 'a longitudinally-disposed work-holding member capable of adjustment :transversely of the platen and located between the main tracks or guides, so that a side edge of the work-sheet may be held and guarded, as well as the end edges thereof, irres ective of the width of the sheet, and, as wil be hereinafter explained, this longitudinal member is possessed of special utility, either when employed alone or in connection with the transverse holding members.

In 0116 illustrated embodiment of the invention the longitudinal work-holding member (indicated by the numeral 13) is preferably in the form of a thin flexible strip or tape, preferably metallic, and secured at its opposite ends toadjustable carriers 14 and 15, located, respectively, at the front end of the platen and at the rear end of the platen extension 5. The tape when used in con nection with the other holding members is preferably passed under, and thus disposed in crossing relation with the transverse holding and guarding members 11 and 12, which insure the retention of the tape against the platen to securely hold and guard one longitudinal edge of the worksheet-that is to say, one edge disposed longitudinally of the platen. The carriers 14 and 15 for the longitudinal holding member or tape 13 are preferably in the form of sleeves, as shown, and are mounted for adjustment along transversely-disposed supportingmembers or bars 16 and 17, the bar 16 being of cylindrical form and secured at its oppositeends to the swinging rail-sections 7 adjacent to their front ends. The supporting member or bar 17 is also preferably of cylindrical form, but is provided with a longitudinal slot orrecess 18, which is engaged by an internal lug or feather 19 formed in the sleeve 15, the pur-' sheet.

pension of the tape to any appreciable exshaft 17, as by a set-screw 24. This mech anism provided for the rotation of the sleeve 15 may be designated as tension mechan ism for the tape 13, since the purpose of the spring-urged shaft-supported carrier 15 is to subject the tape to a continual tension sufiicient tohold 1t taut. sion mechanism for the tape 13is made necessary by, reason of the fact that the elevation of the swinging frame would roduce'more or less slack in the tape, which s ack would'be highly objectionable, first, because the tension of the tape is relied upon to some extent to hold the carriers 14 and 1 5 in their'adjusted positions, and also because the dropping of the tape below the frame would interfere with the displacement-of the printed sheet from the platen and its replacement by a blank In the event of the stretching or extent the tension may be. increased by loosening the set-screw 24 and turning the collar 23 upon the shaft l'iina manner which will be obvious, and likewise the-tension on the tape may be relieved, or, more properly, may be adjusted so as to exert just sufficient tension upon the tape to hold the latter in its proper c-los e to the platen is preferably further insured by the mounting of the transverse bar or strip 25 across the surface. of the platen extenslon 5 adjacent to the front end thereof,

, the tape or longitudinal holdingmember being passed under the strip so as to minimize the tendency of the tape to slackwhen the rails are elevated.- It will now appear that the :platen is equipped with a work-holding and machine-supporting frame movable toward and away from the writingsurface and comprisin the machine tracks or guides and a plurality of work-holding members located between the tracks or guides and disposed both transversely and longitudinally over the platen, these members being in crossing I relation and individuallv' or independently 11 and 12 and the longitudinal holding 1nemadjustable along each other, so that the endand side edges of the work-sheet may be guarded and clamped irrespective of the size of the sheet, the location thereof, or the relative dimensions of its end and side edges. In fact, in the drawin s I have illustrated means for retaining all four edges of the Work-sheet, inasmuch as I have shown not only the transverse holding members or guards ;ber 13,-but also awork-gage attachment con 'structed in accordance with the invention of Hiram J Halle, disclosed in his concurrent application Serial No. 39,720. This gage attachment comprises a detachable slottedplate 26, carried by the platen beyond the left-hand track or guide and supporting a plurality of adjustable gage members 27 ,which either form an abutment for the left-hand edge of the The provision of. ten-- work-sheet or engage file-openingstheiein in a manner well understood iii-the arti Aside from. the work-gage attachment, =-'however, the left-hand swinging rail-sectionj-7 constitutes holding means for one side edge of the work-sheet, so that in one aspect of thein vetn tion, considered entirely aside from'theworkga e of Halle, it comprehends afr'ame "movable toward and away from the writing-surface and comprehending a'pairofdongitudinal holding members anda pairloftransi verse holding members, both the longitudinal and transverse holdingmembers being relatively adjustable to accommodate a'card, bill, or sheet of any size within thercapacity of the platen.

- It should be understood, howeve that while the invention includes in one aspect both lonqitudinal'and transverse. holding and guardin members,- it. also contemplatesas a comp ete embodiment a longitudinallydispos'ed member. of novel form which .is possessed of special utility without reference to the other members usually, but not necessarily, employed in connec-tion'therewith that is to say, the flexiblemember 13'is possessed of special utilitywithoutreference to t the members 11 and 12,inas1nucli?asit retains the work-sheet upon theplaten and' protects the edge of said sheet from contact with any part of the type-writing machine whichmight otherwise come in cont-acttherewith; Another independent feature Iof-novelty resides in the utilization of a fieXi-bie holding memher under tension, whether such tension be produced by separate tensionniec-hanisn or by the inherent elasticity oftlie member. Thus, while the preferred form of the meniber 13 and its mountingis shown ii -Fig: 1'. of

the drawings, lhave il-lustratedyin Figrv'T apossible variation which \comprehends the employment of a rubber band 13tin'lieu1ot the flexible metallic tape. 13,abut likewise capable of individualtransverse adjustment to accommodate it to worksheets of various sizes. In conclusion it m a be; :remarked that while the rear end ot'the-htapeis shown as secured to the platenextensionf, which, is fixed relative tothe machine supportin frame, it is obvious thatsi ;might;beat-talclmds 7 tothe platen, to the tablesupporting-the plat-emof at any other, convenient point r It is thought that from theforegoing the construction, operation, am'L-utilityof mylimproved platen will he oby'iiousg.butAvhile the llO' present embodiment of the invention is be lieved at this time to'be preferable l'jwishto reserve the right to.-eifect.,-such changes, modifications.- and variations: as" map-he necessitated by the application of the i1 1ventron to ditierent typeset machines or, may vbe suggested by exper ence and exper ment,

provided such variations of the illustrated structure are properly-embraced, ifith' the scope of the protectionpraye d, ;l-

What I claim 1s 1. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen and a verticallymovable machine supporting frame, of a work holding or guarding member disposed longitudinally over the printing area of the platen and spaced from the side members of the frame, saidlongitudinal work holding or guarding member beingterminally connected with the machine-supporting frame to insure its movement therewith and adjustable transversely of the platen independently of the frame to dispose it along the edge of the work sheet or element, regardless of the location thereof.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen and a machinesup porting frame hinged at its rear end and comj prising side rails and a transverse bar connecting the front ends thereof, of a work holdingor guarding member disposed longitudinally'over the platen between the side rails of the machine-supporting frame and spaced from both of said rails, said member having adjustable connection at one end with the front bar of the machine-supporting frame and adjustable connection at its opposite end with a relatively fixed part,whereby said longitudinal work holding or guarding member will swing vertically with the frame and will be independently adjustable transversely across the printing area of the platen to dispose it along one edge of a work sheet or element, re-

gardless of the particular location of the latter.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen and tracks or guides for a traveling machine, of a work holding or guarding device comprising separate members in crossing relation, each of said members being independently adjustable along the other, whereby the work holding or guarding device may be positioned to hold or guard an end edge and a side edge of a work-sheet.

4. In a type-Writing machine, the combination with a flat platen and a vertically; movable achine supporting frame, of a work holding or guarding device comprising separate members in crossing relation and movable toward and away from the writingsurface with the machine-supporting frame, each of said members being independently adjustable along the other, whereby the work holding or guarding device may be positioned to hold or guard an end edge and a side edge of a work-sheet regardless of the size or location of the latter.

5. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen and a verticallymovable machine supporting frame, of a work holding or guarding device movable to Ward and from the platen with the frame and including two transverse members, independently adjustable longitudinally of the platen, and a longitudinal member in crossing rela- 7 tion with the transverse members and inde pendently adjustable transversely ofthe platen,the independent. adjustment of the several members permitting the 'work holding .or guarding device to be adjusted in size to accommodate work-sheets of various sizes and to be positioned for holding or guarding worksheets at various points within the printing area.

6. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a fiat platen to support the worksheet,and the vertically-movable main tracks or guides for the printing mechanism, of the transversely-disposed work holding or guarding member having sliding connection with said main'tracks or guides, and a longitudinally-disposed transversely-adjustable work holding or guarding member located between the tracks or guides.

7. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen to support the worksheet, of a pair of swinging main tracks or guides connected for movement in unison, a plurality of transversely-disposed work holding or guarding members having sliding connection at their ends with said tracks or guides and movable therewith, and a longitudinally disposed, transversely adjustable work holding or guarding member located between the tracks or guides and also movable therewith toward andfrom the writingsurface.

8. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, and the swinging main tracks or guides, of an adjustable transverse work holding or guarding member having sliding engagement with said tracks or guides,- and a longitudinally-disposed work holding or guarding member in'crossing relation with the transverse member and adjustable transversely of the platen. 9., In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, and the main tracks or guides formed with longitudinal grooves,

of transverse work holding or guarding members slidably engaging said grooves, a supporting-bar extending between the main tracks or guides, and a longitudinally-disposed work-holding member adjustably supported by said bar.

10. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen to support the worksheet, of a flexible work holding or guarding member or strip disposed over the platen, and tension mechanism for said strip.

11. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, and a swinging frame disposed thereover, of a flexible work holding or guarding member or strip securpd at its opposite ends to the frame and platen respectively, and means for automatically taking up the slack in said strip when the frame is elevated.

12. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, and a swinging frame disposed thereover, of a longitudinally arranged flexible work holding or guarding memberor strip connected at one end to the frame, and means located beyond the opposite end of the frame for automatically taking up the slack in said strip.

' 13. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen to support the worksheet, of a flexible work holding or guarding strip disposed over the platen, carriers supporting the opposite ends of the. strip and mounted for adjustment transversely of the platen-,and means iorurgmg one of the car-' .riers in a-directiorr-to take up the slack in said flexible member or strip.

14. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen for'the support of the work-sheet, of a'flexible work holding or guarding member'or strip disposed over the platen, supporting-bars retaining the opposite ends ,ofthe strip, one of said bar's being movablef'and reactive means for urging said -movablebar in a direction to automatically take [up the slack in the strip. 15, In a type-writing machine, the combination with a fiat platen to support the work sheet, of a-flexiblework holding or guarding -member or strip disposed thereover, supporting-bars adjustably supporting the oppositeends of the.strip,' one of said bars being mounted for rotary. movement, and a spring disposed to urge the bar in a direction to wind ,pne'jend of the strip and-thereby automatic- "fay takeup-the slack therein.

16, In a type-writing machine, the combition with a flatplaten to support the worksheet, of a flexiblework holding or guarding member or strip disposed. over the platen, carriers located at the opposite ends of the strip, supporting-bars adjustably supporting said carriers to permit the lateral adjustment of the strip across the platen, one of said supporting bars being mounted for rotary movement, means f'orpreventing independent'rotary movement of the carriers supported by the rotary supporting-bar, and a spring arranged to rotate said her for the purpose of automatically taking up slack in the flexible member or strip. I

17. Ina type-writing machine, the combination with a'flat platen, and a swinging machine-supporting frame disposed thereover,

- of the flexible work holding or guarding the machinesu porting'framefor movement adjustment.

member or strip disposed over the platen and movable toward and away from the writingsurface, said flexible strip being connected to therewith and eing mounted for transverse 18. In a type-writing machine, the combination' with aflat platen to support the worksheet, ofa swinging supporting-frame for the printing mechanlsm, and individually-adjustable transverse and longitudinal work holdingor guarding members movable towith the main ward and away from the writing-surface with the machine-supporting frame, one of said work holding or guarding members being flexible.

19. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen to support the worksheet, of a swinging supporting-frame for the printing mechanism, individually-adjustable transverse and longitudinal work holding or guarding members movable toward and away-from the writing-surface of the machinesupporting frame, one of said work holding or guarding members being flexible, and tension mechanism for said flexible member.

20. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen to support the workmember adjustable transversely of the platen, said member being under tension. 22.- Ina type-writing machine, thecomblnation with a flatplaten to support the worksheet, of a frame vertically movable thereover, and a flexible. work holding or guarding .member or strip connected to said frame,

said member being under tension. 23. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, of work holding or guarding members dis )OSGCl transvesrely and longitudinally of t 1e platen, respecttively, oneof said members being flexible and under tension,-and each of said members being mounted for individual adjustment.

24. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, and the swinging -main tracks or guides, of an adjustable transverse work holding or guarding member having, sliding engagement with said tracks or, guides. and a longitudinally-(11sposed work-holding member in crossing relation with the transverse member, and adjustable transversely of the platen, said longitudinal member also having connection tracks or guides for movement therewith. 25. In a type writing machine, the co1nbi nation with a flat platen, and the swinging main tracks or uides of a lurality of adjustable transverse work holding and guarding members having sliding engagement with the tracks or guides, and a longitudinallydisposedwork holding or guarding member in crossing relation with the transverse members and adjustable transversely of the platen, the several work holding or guarding members being movable with the-tracks or guides.

26. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat laten, and a movable machine-supporting ame; of a'flexible'work holding or guarding member under tension and connected to the machine-supporting frame for movement therewith.

27. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, of a flexible work holding or guarding member disposed over the platen, means for mounting said member so as to permit it to be swung toward and away from the platen, and means for automatically taking up theslack in said memher, when thelatter is elevated.

28. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a flat platen, of a flexible work holding or guardingstrip disposed over the platen, and retaining devices for the 0p 0- site ends of the strip,- one' of said devices eing fixed relative to the platen and the-other device being movable to swing the strip away from the platen and thus facilitate the manipulation of the work, said strip being under tension to cause the slack therein to be automatically taken up when the strip is elevated.

, 29. In a type-writing machine, the combination with a fiat platen, of a flexible workguarding strip disposed over the platen, and

retaining devices for the o posite ends of said strip, one only of said devices bein movable to separate the strip from the p atennand thus facilitate the manipulation of thework, 

